People
When you dedicate time and effort to things you are passionate about you get inspiring results.
Our volunteer Board of Directors are the heart of the Foundation and are a driving force in making a real difference in the lives of people with developmental disabilities.
Catherine joins the Foundation after ten years on the Garth Homer Society Board and has 25 years of experience in her career in technology and transformation with IBM and as a Director or Chair for charitable organizations in social services and education throughout Vancouver, Victoria and the Gulf Islands. Her work in corporate social responsibility includes an economic development project in Geraldton, Western Australia and STEM projects for girls. Catherine believes that together, all people have the power to change, improve and challenge each other in positive ways to design innovative and sustainable structures.
Currently pursuing her MSc. in Health Informatics at the University of Victoria, Catherine is passionate about the use of technology to help scale, measure and drive positive health outcomes. Informatics aligns data, information, people and knowledge in a way that can improve human health. As an active ally, she is committed to continuous learning for diversity, equity and inclusion, seeking opportunities for truth and reconciliation, and creating richer diverse spaces.
Bruce grew up in Victoria attending Glenlyon Norfolk School, Brentwood College and UVIC graduating with a BA (Honours) in English Literature and Linguistics. Having travelled extensively in his youth, he gravitated towards the travel business in Toronto (12 years) and London UK (12 years) specialising in retail and wholesale travel and the then popular charter flight business. He returned to Victoria where he was involved commercial real estate and several Charity Boards. He served on the Boards of Victoria Civic Heritage Trust (Vice-Chair), Glenlyon Norfolk School Society (Chair), Glenlyon Norfolk School Foundation (Chair), Garth Homer Society (Chair), Garth Homer Foundation (Chair) and the Brentwood College Society (Chair, Nominating & Governance Committee). Health, education and exploratory travel have been Bruce’s focus and he believes that the three are related and can be shared with those he serves at Garth Homer.
Kevan was born in New Zealand and is married with two teenaged sons.
Prior to moving to Victoria in 2012, he worked as an Education Assistant at Ferndale School in Christchurch - a State Specialist School providing high quality education, therapy and care for learners aged 5- 21 years. https://www.ferndale.school.nz/.
His first job in Victoria was working for the Garth Homer Society, and then he began working as an Education Assistant for the Greater Victoria School District. He is currently working at Victor School.
Kevan enjoys working with and advocating for people with complex needs, especially children. He is also a big rugby fan.
Chris is the Director of PNG HHISP (Papua New Guinea Health and HIV Implementation Service Provider) since February 2019. He has a long history in health and international development. Early in his career he was a public servant for the Province of British Columbia, Canada including from 1982-1991 (and 1995) in the senior management of the Ministry of Health. Chris was the Director-General of Health and the chief executive of the Ministry of Health in New Zealand from 1992-5. He moved to the World Bank in 1996 where he served in a variety of capacities including Director for Human Development in the Europe and Central Asia Region, Director for Health Nutrition and Population for the Human Development Network, country manager in both Central Asia and East Africa and Senior Adviser HNP/Program Leader for Health Systems Strengthening for the Africa Region, retiring in 2012. From September 2012-2016 Chris was a Principal Associate with Abt Associates, working primarily on the Health Finance and Governance Project funded by USAID, retiring December 2016. He continued to take on short term consultancies in international health (e.g. Gates Foundation), until accepting the appointment by Abt with HHISP.
John spent his early career in education, including twenty years at Shawnigan Lake School, on Vancouver Island. Shawnigan Lake School, a leader in independent boarding school education, made an early and significant investment in its future by supporting a bold advancement strategy. John, a passionate advocate of independent school education, served as Director of the Shawnigan Foundation for twelve years.
John’s delivery of philanthropic leadership has taken him to Britain, USA, China, Denmark, Holland, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia and U.A.E. His single-minded focus on major gift philanthropy and board development has enabled his clients to attract significant resources to their organizations. John represents Global Philanthropic with an active list of clients across and is a much sought-after speaker on all aspects of fundraising, especially on the creation of all-encompassing advancement programs, whilst focusing on capital campaigns, annual fund strategies and planned giving. His lengthy experience in China is considered a significant asset by his clients. Since joining Global, John has also achieved significant success in guiding healthcare, the arts and social service clients.
John is the Past-President of the Vancouver Island Chapter of AFP. He was honoured by his Canadian colleagues in 2011 with the prestigious CAISAP Heaman Award for his contributions to philanthropy in Canada. John obtained an MA from the University of Victoria.
